82 Israeli rescuers join in the search for survivors in Cali, in the aftermath of last Monday’s August 10 earthquake
- The specialized team arrived in the city to support relief agencies in areas where they are still working against time to find survivors
Santiago de Cali, August 15, 2026
A contingent of 82 rescuers from the Israel Defense Forces arrived in Cali with specialized equipment to join the search and rescue efforts in areas where there is still hope of finding survivors in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated many buildings in Cali.
The team belongs to the Rescue and Salvage Unit of the Civil Defense Command of the Israel Defense Forces and has specialized capabilities to intervene in collapsed structures and support decision-making during search operations.
Ronni Kaplan, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, explained that the contingent is made up of three fundamental components: “We arrived with a contingent of 82 soldiers and officers from the Israel Defense Forces, from the Civil Defense Command's Search and Rescue Unit. The contingent has three core components: first, the search and rescue team; then, the structural engineers and technologists who bring with them a kit of tools and software for better decision-making.”
Beyond its technical capabilities, the mission also represents a message of solidarity from the Israeli people with the families affected by the emergency.
“We are here, above all else, to express the solidarity of the people of Israel with the people of Colombia. We are working constantly with the various Colombian rescue teams and are witnessing the resilience of the Colombian people, the hundreds of volunteers at the active sites where buildings have collapsed as a result of this earthquake,” he stated.
The Israeli team held an initial meeting with emergency response agencies in Cali and subsequently traveled to the locations where their specialized support was needed.
“We arrived and met with the Fire Department and immediately went to the sites where we were assigned, according to the advisory needs they required. There, we connected and coordinated with the rescue teams and began working together,” Kaplan explained.
Kaplan concluded his message with a reflection directed to Colombia, based on Israel's experience in emergency situations and tragedies.
“In Israel, we have learned that in the face of tragedy, we cannot despair, but rather take responsibility. We know how difficult what is happening is, and we are here to be with you and try to get through this.”
He added: “In Israel, we say there are three types of people: optimists, pessimists, and those who have hope and say: together with God, I will make things right.”
Reporter: Jorge Gutiérrez Leyva
Videographer: Jairo Fernando ‘Ito’ Parra
Photographer: Oswaldo Páez
Community Manager: Valentina Polania
Communications Office
Mayor's Office of Santiago de Cali